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JavaScript weak references

Category

JavaScript

Type

New or changed feature

Status

Enabled by default (Chrome 84)

Intent stage

Prepare to ship

Summary

Weak references enable JavaScript developers to create weak references to JavaScript objects. Weak references and finalizers help web developers define cleanup routines that don't keep the related objects alive but are (optionally) executed after the related object is garbage-collected.

Standards & signals

• Specification: https://github.com/tc39/proposal-weakrefs
• Firefox: In development
• Safari: In development
• Web developers: Positive
• Tracking bug: https://bugs.chromium.org/p/v8/issues/detail?id=8179

Docs: https://v8.dev/features/weak-references

Samples: https://v8.dev/features/weak-references

Explainers: https://v8.dev/features/weak-references

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